FIA confirms Alpine and Honda's procedural breaches of F1 cost cap regulations

In an announcement on Wednesday, the FIA confirmed that Alpine and Honda's Formula One teams had committed procedural breaches of the sport's cost cap regulations for the 2023 season. Despite these breaches, the FIA noted that both teams remained within the financial limits set by the governing body.

The 2023 season marked the third year of cost cap restrictions for all F1 teams, who were bound by a $138.6 million limit. It was also the inaugural year for power unit manufacturers, part of the sport's transition to a brand-new engine format expected in 2026.

"The CCA [Cost Cap Administration] confirms that although Alpine Racing SAS and HRC [Honda Racing Corporation] have both been found to be in procedural breach, neither has exceeded the cost cap level," stated the FIA. "Both Alpine Racing SAS and HRC have acted at all times in good faith and are currently cooperating with the CCA to finalise the matter."

The FIA suggested a settlement through an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA), citing "the nature of the breach, the complexities of the new financial regulations... And the challenges associated with their first year of implementation." An ABA generally implies a financial penalty rather than a more severe sporting sanction.

The specific nature of these procedural breaches has not been disclosed but could pertain to late document submissions or errors in financial documentation. In previous instances, similar procedural breaches led to fines: Aston Martin was fined $450,000 in 2022, while Williams paid a $25,000 fine the same year for missing a filing deadline.

Alpine is currently owned by Renault while Honda, which will supply engines for Aston Martin from 2026, is partnered with champion team Red Bull. Additionally, the FIA stated that the four other power unit manufacturers planned for 2026 were in compliance with the financial regulations. For 2023, engine spending was capped at $140.4 million.

As the sport continues to navigate its financial regulations, the cooperation and good faith actions of both Alpine and Honda have been noted by the FIA, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and regulatory adherence.

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